Sequence selector for automatic phonographs



s Sheets-$heet 2 231 T mimllllllHHHH Oct. 14, 1941. E. A. EBERT ET AL SEQUENCE SELECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS Filed June 29, 1959 Oct. 14, 1941. E. A. EBERT ETAL 5 SEQUENCE SELECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS 7 Filed June 29, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 14, 1941 -umrso STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SEQUENCE SELECTOR FOR AUTOMATIC PHONOGBAPHS Edward A. Ebert and Nelson J. Gleiser, Buflalo,

N. Y., assignors to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y., a corporation of Ohio Application June 29, 1939. Serial No. 281,846

12 Claims. (01. 200-) termined by the choice or selection of the patron,

that is, to effect the sequence playing of the records in th order pre-selected.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sequence selector for automatic phonographs which is simple and compact in construction, which is reliable and efllcient in operation, and which is not liable to get out of order.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out i the appended claims. a In the accompanying lrawings:

v Figure 1 is a from ele ation of a muiti-selective phonograph showing our improved sequence selector applied thereto. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section thereof taken in the vertical plane of one of the selector ele- 'ments, the selector element shown being in its retracted or non-selective position. Figure 3 is a similar view with the selector element shown in its projected selective position. Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken in the plane of line 4-4, Figure 2. Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section taken in the plane of line H, Figure 2. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit and associated control elements;

Similar characters of reference indicate cor responding parts throughout the several views.

. Our improved selector mechanism has vbeen shown, by way of example, in 06123392131011 with an automatic phonograph of the type shown in the United States Patent No. 2,096,? 18, dated Catcher 26, 1937, wherein it indicates the supporting chassis, II the tone arm and It the turntable which is adapted to support a plurality of records in stackdike fashion for selective play. The tumtable is selectivelyadjustable to various heights to properly position a selected record in the operating plane ,or' the tone arm, after which the for play to provide an operating clearance spac for thetone .arm.

The-mechanism for elevating the turntable to properly position a record selected for play and the means for splitting the record stack to provide "an operating. clearance for the tone arm tailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary. Sufiice itto say, however, that this mechanism includes cams l3 and It driven by an electric motor ii for governing the elevating movements of the turntable l2 and record-stack-splitting means, respectively, as set forth in the aforesaid patent.

The sequence selector mechanism is operatively associated'with the cams l3 and It to govern the selection and playing of any records'pre-selected for play and is so constructed as to enable a plurality of records to be selectedin advance for play and then have the phonograph automatically play those selective records in the order or sequence as desired by the patron. To this end the selector mechanism is preferably constructed as follows:

The working parts of this mechanism are mounted on a suitable frame 16 rising from the front end of the chassis l0 and including a faceplate ll on which a plurality of push buttons [8 are guided for manual projection to a selective position and which correspond in number to the record-stack is split above the record selected number of records borne by the phonograph.

These buttons may be arranged in a row, as

shown, and each has a spring I! applied thereto for normally holding it in its'retra'cted or nonselective position. Disposed in alinement with these push buttons for actuation thereby, when projected, are companion yokes 20 pivoted to swing verticallyvabout a common pivot shaft 2| fixed to the frame It and each carrying a springurged dog or pawl 22 arranged forwardly of the ,pivot shaft for cooperative engagement with a corresponding selector rack bar 23 to elevate it to a selective position. These rack bars are guided for vertical movement in the frame It, being disposed in a longitudinal row between the' push buttons I8 and the pivot shaft 21 and freely passing through openings 24 formed in the companion yoke 20 for both vertical and lateral displacement relative thereto. In bearing contact with the rack bars 23 adjacent their'upper and lower ends, are yieldable guide shoes 25 which main tain the bars in alinement and which also, at predetermined times, permit these'bars to be dis-'- placed laterally from th full line position shown in Figures 2 and 3 to the dotted line position ,mally abut the top side of the upper guide shoe.

shownin Figure 3. Each rack bar is provided adjacent its upper end with a downwardly-facing stop lug or shoulder 26 which is adapted to nortolimit the downward movement of the rack form no part of the present invention and a de-. bar and support it in its non-selective position,

1y urges it to such position.

When a given push button is depressed to select a record for play, it effects the elevation of the companion rack bar 23 a predetermined distance to a selective-goveming position by reason of the upward rocking of the associated yoke and lift action imparted by the pawl 22, the latter engaging one or another of the teeth in the rack bar. At its upper end each rack bar has a switch contact 28 disposed for engagement with a vertically-swinging contact plate 29 which is commonto the several selector bars and overhangs their upper ends, such contact plate leeing pivoted at 30 to the frame i6 and is limited in its downward-swinging movement by a stop pin 3|. In the lower or non-selective positions of the respective latch bars their switch-contacts 28 are free from contact with the-common switch plate 29, but when one or another oi. the rack bars is elevated in response to the depression of its companion push button, then that selector bar is brought into switch-closing position. Aseach successive push button is moved to its selective position to correspondingly elevate its companion rack bar a predetermined distance, a means is provided for automatically further elevating those selected rack bars in step by step fashion a predetermined distance, one in advance of or higher than the others, as illustrated in Figure 5, to properly present these bars one at a time, and in the predetermined order or sequence selected, to switch-closing relation with the contact plate 29, and whereby the records selected by the push buttons will be automatically played in the same order as selected by the patron. In'other words, when the first record of a given plurality is selected for play, by depressing its companion push button, the corresponding rack bar is elevated into' switch-closing contact with the swinging contact plate 29; when the next record of the group is selected for play by depressing its companion push button, then simultaneously with the additional elevating strokes'to the selected rack bars as each subsequent push button is depressed to a selective position, preferably consists of a pinion gear 32'extending lengthwise on the frame l6 and disposed rearwardly of and common to the several selector rack bars 23 for engagement with the teeth thereof. In their 7 2,269,156 A-spring 21 connected to each rack bar constantthe record-changing mechanism of the phonograph, and in the specific instance, for governing the elevating of the turntable to a selective position and the splitting of the record-stack above the record selected. Leading from each of the rack bar contacts 28 is a wire 35 which is connected to a companion post or terminal 36 of an annular row of terminals corresponding in num-.

bet to the selector push buttons i8 and with which one arm 31 of a two-armed revolvable contact or wiper member 38 is adapted to engage. -The movable contact 29 is connected by the wire 35 to the source of electrical energy. The closing of the button control switch contacts 28, 29 merely serves to pre-set the circuit for automatically eiiecting, at such time as the circuit isfully established across the wiper arm 31 and the companion terminal 36, the elevating of the turntable and the splitting of the stack in the manner described in the aforesaidpatent. After each record-selecti Operation has been performed, it is necessary to restore the companion selector bar 23 to its initial position shown in Figure 2 and to simultaneously remove its switch-contact 28 from the swinging contact plate. This may be accomplished automatically during the time that the record stack is being split, and to this end a gear 39 is associated with the stack-splitting cam i4 and is provided with a tappet lug 40 to engage one end of a vertically-movable trip lever 5| pivoted intermediate its ends to the chassis ID. The other end of this trip lever engages a crank 42 fixed to one end of a vertically-swinging bail 43 pivotally supported at its ends in the frame i6. Slidably mounted on this bail for movement lengthwise thereof for selective registering alinement with the respective rack bars 23, is a fork-like member 44 adapted to effect the lateral displacement of an alined selector'bar from-the full line to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3, and in which position such bar is disengaged from the gear 32. Applied to one of the arms of this displaceable fork is a lug 45 which is adapted, during a; forward displacement of the fork, to, engage the tail of'the pawl 22 and rock it in a, direction to disengage it from the teeth of the alining rack bar. By this construction, whenever the tappet lug l0 encounters the lever ll, it causes the crank 42 to rock in a direction to swing the ball 43 forwardly and bring the fork member 44 into engagement with the alined selector bar 23 and associated pawl 22 to-shift the bar laterally out of mesh with the gear 33, whereupon the spring 21 connected to such rack bar urges it downwardlowered position, the rack bars are free from meshing engagement with this gear, each rack having a recessed portion 33 extending beyond the upper portion thereof for this purpose, as shown in Figure 2. As each rack bar is elevated in response to the depression of its companion push button, its toothed portion is brought into mesh with the gear 32 whereby each rack bar sov selected, afterthe first one selected, advances such gear a like fractional revolution and ele- 1y to its initial position and out of contact with the switch element 29.

when a record is being selected for play, means are provided for shifting the forked member 44 lengthwise of the ball 43 into registering aline ment with the companion selector bar.23 in readiness to shift the latter to its initial position. For this purpose, the forked member is connected by a link 46 with a horizontally-swinging lever '41 pivoted at 48 to the chassis l0 and having a roller l9 thereon engaging a cam 50 associated with the turntable-elevating cam IS, the latter being governed in its movements by the selector contacts 28, 2! and I6, 37.

When it is desired to cancel any selections once made, this may be accomplished through the medium of a cancelling button 5| guided in the frame I! and face-plate I! and disposed to engage one arm of a horizontally-swinging rock are included in'an electric circuit for governing lever 52, as shown in Figure 4, the other arm thereof being connected by a spring 53 with the adjoining crank end 54 of a swinging cancelling bar 55 pivotally supported in the frame I8 and extending along the upper rear edges of the selector rack bars 23. A spring 56 applied to this button normally holds it and th cancelling bar in an inoperative position. Upon depressing this button, the bar 55 is rocked toward the rack'bars to shift them from engagement with the gear 32 and allow their springs 21 to restore the previ phonographs, comprising individually-movable selector elements projectable to an initial selecously-selected bars to their initial or non-selec- I tive positions.

We claim as our invention:

1. A record selector mechanism for automatic phonographs, comprising individually-movable selector elementsprojectable to an initial selective-setting position, and gear and rack means operatively associated with said selector elements for automatically projecting them progressively in advance of one another a given distance for each selection made, whereby said elements are adjusted in predetermined sequence-selective positions relativeto one another, the rack means constituting a part of the selector elements and 't h e gear being'engageable with any one or all of the rack means.

2. A record selector mechanism for automatic phonographs, comprising individually-movable selector elements projectable to an initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack thereon, a gear common to and disposed inoperative relation to the toothed racks of said elements and engageable therewith during .their initial selective positions to advance said gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distance for each selection made, th racks of said selector elements being disengaged from the gear in their non-selective positions, and means for presenting the racks of said elements into engagement with said gear.

I 3. A record selector mechanism for automatic phonographs, comprising individually-movable selector elements projectable to an initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack thereon, a gear common to and disposed in operative relation to the toothed racks of said elements and engageable therewith during their initial selective positions to'advance said gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distanc for each selection made, the racks of said selector elements being disengaged from the gear in their non-selective position, means for presenting the racks of said elements into engagement with said gear, and a selector-governing sWitchdispoSed for progressive closing in the respective sequence-selective positions of said selector elements and includingindividual switch contacts applied to each of said elements and a cooperative movable switch contact common thereto for successive engagement therewith.

6. A record selector mechanism-for automatic phonographs, comprising individually-movable tive-setting position, gear and rack means operatively associated with said selector elements for automatically projecting them progressively in advance of one another a given distance for each selection made, whereby said elements are adjusted in predetermined sequence-selective positions relative to one anotheiythe racks of said seselector elements projectable to an initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack portion thereon and a recessed portion adrack thereon, means for supporting said selector 'elements for displacement in a direction at substantially right angles to their projected selective movements, a gear common to anddisposed in operativ relation to the toothed racks ofsaid elements and engageable therewith only during their initial selective positions toadvance said gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements lector elements being disengaged from the gear in their non-selective position,.means for presenting the racks of said elements into engagement with said gear, and a selector-governing switch disposed for progressive closing in the respective sequence-selective position or said selector elements.

4. A record selector mechanism for automatic phonographs, comprising individually-movable selector elements projectable to an initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack thereon, agear common to and disposed in operative relation to the toothed racks of said elements and engageable therewith during their initial selective positions to advance said. gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements a, given distance for each selection made, the racks of said selector elements being disengaged from the .gear in their non-selective position, means for presenting the racks of said elements into ena given distance for each selection made, means connected to said selector elements for bringing them into engagement with said gear during their initial movement to selective positions, means applied to the selector elements for yieldingly urging them to a non-selective. position, ,and means selectively engageable with said elements for displacing them from engagement with said ear to cause their automatic restoration to a non-selective position.

8. A record selector mechanism for automatic phonograph, comprising individually-movable selector elements guided for movement both longitudinally and laterally, said elements being adapted to be projected longitudinally to an gagement with said gear, and a selector-g'overning switch disposed for progressive closing in the respective sequence-selective positions of said selector elements.

5-. A record selector mechanism for automatic initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack .thereon, a gear common to and disposed in operative relation to the toothed racks of said elements and engageabl therewith only during their initial selective positions to advance said gearjointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distance for each selection made, means connected to said selector elements for bringing them into engagement with said gear during theirinitial movement to selective positions, means for yieldingly urging said selector elements to a non-selective position, and to a position toward said gear, and means selectively engageable with said elements for shifting them 4 laterally from engagement with said gear to cause their automatic return to a non-selective posiphonographs,

selectormeans for selecting in advance a plution.

9. A'record selector mechanism for automatic phonographs, comprisingindividually-movable selector elements guided for movement both longitudinally and laterally, said'elements being adapted to be projected longitudinally to an initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack thereon, a gear common to and disposed in operative relation to the toothed racks of said elements and engageable therewith only during their initial selective positions to advance said gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distance for each selection made,

means connected to said selector elements vfor bringing them into engagement with said gear during their initial movement to selective positions, means for yieldingly urging said selector elements to a non-selective position and to a position toward said gear, and means for restoring said selector elements to their non-selective position including a yoke guided for longitudinal movement into registration with one or another of the selector elements, and means for shifting said' yoke laterally toward said elements to dis-' engage an alined element'from said gear. 10. A record, selector mechanism for automatic comprising individually-movable rality of records to be played, companion selector elements corresponding .in number to and disposed for actuation by said individually-mov able selector means to an initial selective-setting position and each having a toothed rack thereon, operative connections between the companion selector means-and selector elements including feed 11. A record selector mechanism for automatic phonographs, comprising individually-movable selector means for selecting in advance a plurality of records to be played, companion selector elements corresponding in number to and disposed for actuation by said individually-movable selector means to an initial selective-setting, position and each having a toothed rack thereon,

operative connections between the companion selector means and selector elements including feed pawls engageable with the racks of the lat- 'ter for advancing them a predetermined distance 'to such initial selective-setting positions, switch means governed by said selector elements and including switch contacts applied to the latter and a cooperative movable switch contact common to a said first-named contacts, and a gear common phonographs,

pawls engageable with the racks of the latter for advancing them a predetermined'distance to such initial selective-setting positions, and a gear common to and disposed in operative relation to the toothed racks of the selector elements and engageable therewith only during their initial selective positions to advance said gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distance for each selection made, whereby said elements areadjusted in predetermined sequence-selective. positions relative to one another.

'to and disposed in operative relation to the toothed racks of the selector elements and engageable therewith only during their initial aelective positions to advance said gear jointly as a unit with the selector elements a given distance for each selection made, whereby said elements are adjusted in sequence-selective, switchclosing positions relative to one another.

12. A record selector mechanism for automatic comprising selector elements, shiftable coupling means disposed in operative relation with said selector-elements and engageable therewith during their movements to selective positions to advance the coupling means EDWARD A. E'BERT. NELSON J. annrsm 

